Pin clasp



Dec. 26, 1950 L. L. LEVY 2,535,641

PIN CLASP Filed Oct. 16, 1947 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE L. Lav? Patented Dec.26, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved connector for use between abrassire and a body girdle for holding the brassire and the girdle fromshifting on the body of the wearer.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a clasp with means forclamping a fastener which can be manually forced through the fabric 1"the girdle, so that a strap attached to the clasp may be eifectivelyused for uniting the girdle to the brassire, without requiring that theclasp itself clamp the material of the girdle.

Another object of the invention is to combine a U-shaped girdle piercingpin or fastener with a clasp having a spring jaw against which theprongs of the fastener or pin are placed, and a lever jaw which isclosed against the prongs to clamp them between the two jaws againstrelative slipping.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a supporting unit,comprising an elastic strap, a buckle member adjustable on the strap andprovided with a supporting hook, a clasp having an eye to receive thehook, a U-shaped pin which is insertable through the fabric of thegirdle, and means carried by the clasp for clamping the prongs of thepin thereto, so arranged that the points of the pin are entirelyconcealed and protected.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a brassire and girdle connected byconnectors constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on line 22 of Fig.1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, showing the clasp open.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the clasp, showing the pin removed.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the U-shapcd pin.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is a front view of a modified form of the pm.

Fig. 9 is an edge view of a modified form of the clasp.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the practical embodiment ofthe invention, I0 designates an elastic body girdle, and H aconventional brassiere. To the bust wings II and ll of the brassiere theelastic pendant straps l2 and I3 are secured, as by stitching.

The lower end of each strap is provided with a buckle element 14, whichis adjustable thereon, and which is constructed with an upturned hookl5.

Connection is established between each strap and the girdle by means ofa clasp l5. This clasp includes the back plate H, which is formed withintegral side bearing flanges or bars I8 and I9, located on oppositesides thereof and an open eye 29 at the upper end of the back plate. Theback plate is also provided with a pressure jaw 2|, which is spacedlongitudinally from the eye 25 to provide a pin opening 22, and this jawis provided with a spring lower portion 2 I, formed by slits 23 at theside edges thereof, and this spring or resilient lower jaw portion isoffset inwardly, to a slight degree. i

A lever jaw 24 is pivotally secured by its integral trunnions 25 and 2Gto the integral side bars or flanges l8 and I9, near the lower endsthereof, so that it will swing toward and away from the jaw 2|.

The lever 24 is formed with a short transverse lever arm 24, and a longlever arm 24 which extends upwardly along side the jaw 2!, and isadapted to completely cover the same.

'Girdes are usually made of elastic fabric and it is not practical toform large openings in them, or to pierce them with large teeth in suchmanner that ripping may result. To provide a coupling means between theclasp and the buckle element I4, a U-shaped wire pin 27, providingparallel prongs 21 and 27 and a connecting cross bar 21, is used.

The U-shaped wire pin 2'! is inserted through the material of thegirdle, thus forming insignificant small holes in this material, andthen inserted through thepin opening 22 of the clasp 6. The lever jaw 24is then forced against the prongs of the pin 27, so that they areconfined between the jaws 24 and 2|, and the points of these prongsconcealed from contact with the hands or the garment, and thereby fullyprotected from injuring any material or the hands of the user.

To insert an effective coupling engagement between the U-shaped pin 2'!and the clasp, the pin is formed with a laterally deflected upper end 21and laterally deflected prong points 27", forming a structure which isslightly vertically curved when looked at edgewise, as in Fig. 7.

When the lever jaw 24 is forced against the prongs of the pin 21, theywill be held against slipping out of the clasp, and the material of thegirdle will be clamped against the back plate of the clasp. as shown inFig. 2.

To separate the clasp from the girdle, the lever jaw 26 is opened, andthe pin 2? is pulled out of the clasp, when it may be easily removedfrom the girdle.

To increase the resistance of the pin to slipping, the prongs of the pinmay be formed with small knurled teeth 27 When the lever jaw 24 isforced to a clamping position, the short lever jaw arm E l will engagethe prongs of the pin 2?, and force these prongs against the resilientjaw portions 2i, and thereb increase the spring pressure of this jawupon the prongs of the pin, so that it will be more effectively grippedin the clasp.

To secure the lever jaw 24 against accidental opening movement, a band23 may be mounted to slide on the back plate H and the side flanges i8and 59 thereof, so that it will restrain the upper end of the lever armZ i against opening movement, as shown in Fig. 9.

The clasp may be readil connected and disconnected with the elasticstrap, by placing the hook it of the buckle element Him the eye 20 ofthe clasp, or by removing the hook from this eye.

The pin clasp may be used on blouses and any type of garment it may beapplied to.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications comingwithin the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United states Letters Patent is:

1. An elastic strap having a buckle on its lower end provided with ahook, a clasp having a back plate provided with an eye to detachablyengage the hook and a pin opening located below the eye, a U-shaped wirepin having side piercing prongs insertable through the material of agirdle and into said opening, said back plate having side flanges, and alever to grip said prongs, said lever pivoted to said side flanges andprovided with a short lever arm and a long lever arm, said long leverarm concealing the prongs and protecting the points of said pin when ingripping position.

2. An elastic strap having a buckle on its lower end provided with ahook, a clasp having a back plate provided with an eye to detachablyengage the hook and a pin opening located below the eye, a U-shaped wirepin having Side piercing prongs insertable through the material of agirdle and into said opening, said back plate having side flanges, and alever to grip said prongs, said lever pivoted to said side flanges andprovided with a short lever arm and a long lever arm, said long leverarm concealing the prongs and protecting the points of said pin when ingripping position, the prongs having knurled teeth thereon;

3. An elastic strap having a buckle on its lower end provided with ahook, a clasp having a back plate provided with an eye to detachablyengage the hook and a pin opening located below the eye, a U-shaped wirepin having side piercing prongs insertable through the material of agirdle and into said opening, said back plate having side flanges, alever to grip said prongs, said lever pivoted to said side flanges andprovided with a short lever arm and a long lever arm, said long leverarm concealing the prongs and protecting the points of said pin when ingripping position and a band slidable on the back plate over the longlever arm and adapted to restrain the long arm from opening movement.

4. An article of the class described, comprising an elastic strap forattachment at its top end to a brassiere, a buckle having a hook mountedon the lower end of said elastic strap, a U-shaped pin having the freeends of its side arms pointed for insertion through the material of agirdle, a clasp having an eye through which said hook is passedconnecting said clasp to said buckle, said clasp being formed with anopening through which said side arms of said pin are passed after beinginserted through the material of a girdle, and means on. said clasp forgripping the side arms of said pin within said clasp after being passedthrough said opening.

5. An article of the class described, comprising anelasticstrap forattachment at its top end to a brassiere, a bucklehaving a hook mountedon the lower end of said elastic strap, a- U-shaped pin having the freeends of its side arms pointed for insertion through the material of agirdle, a clasp having an eye through which said hook is passedconnecting said clasp to said buckle, said clasp being formed with anopening through which said side'arms of said pin are passed after beinginserted through the, material of a girdle, and means on said clasp forgripping the side arms of said pin within said clasp after being passedthrough said opening, said clasp having a backplate formed with saidopening, aspring jaw on said back plate below said opening, saidgripping means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said back platefor clamping the side arms of said pin against said plate and engagingsaid spring jaw to be retained thereby in an operative position clampingsaid pin against said plate.

6. An article of the class described, comprising an elastic strap forattachment at its top end to a brassiere, a buckle having a hook mountedon the lower end of said elastic strap, a- U-shaped pin having the freeends of its side arms pointed for insertion through the material of agirdle, a clasp having an eye through which said hook is passedconnecting said clasp to said buckle, said clasp being formed with anopening through which said side arms of said pin are passed after beinginserted through the material of a girdle, and means on said clasp forgripping the side arms of said pin within said clasp after, being passedthrough said opening, said clasp having a back plate formed with saidopening, a spring jaw on said back plate below said opening, saidgripping means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said back platefor clamping the side arms of said pin against said plate and engagingsaid spring jaw to be retained thereby in an operative position clampingsaid pin against said plate, said plate being formed with side flangeson opposite sides of said spring jaw and said lever being pivotallymounted between said flanges.

LAWRENCE L. LEVY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,123,919 Allis July 19, 19382,126,591. Voss Aug. 9, 1938

